MOT cost .
Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S A
MOT 2023
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Audi

A3 S Line 35 Tdi S A

727 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where A3 S Line 35 Tdi S As pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.

That's 14.8 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,988 tracked models — a confident result.

Pass

90.5%

Pass-after-fix

1.2%

Fail

8.1%

Avg miles

29,630

Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%

The picture

A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A: a strong MOT record by UK norms

Across 727 MOT tests, the A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A returns 90.5% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. Windscreen damage and a tyre with the cords showing round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 29,630, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.

Top ten reasons for rejection.

  1. 01

    A tyre seriously damaged

    21 occurrences · 2.9% of tests

  2. 02

    Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view

    19 occurrences · 2.6% of tests

  3. 03

    A tyre cords visible or damaged

    15 occurrences · 2.1% of tests

  4. 04

    Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

    15 occurrences · 2.1% of tests

  5. 05

    Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements

    4 occurrences · 0.6% of tests

  6. 06

    a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm

    4 occurrences · 0.6% of tests

  7. 07

    A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber

    3 occurrences · 0.4% of tests

  8. 08

    Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn

    2 occurrences · 0.3% of tests

  9. 09

    Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured and affecting the driver's view of the road or of an obligatory external mirror

    2 occurrences · 0.3% of tests

  10. 10

    A headlamp cleaning device inoperative in the case of LED or gas discharge systems (HID)

    2 occurrences · 0.3% of tests

Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.

Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures

£135–£225

If every one of this A3 S Line 35 Tdi S A's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →

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Build your own retest budget.

Tools that pre-empt a retest.

Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.

Item 01 · Amazon UK

Digital tyre-tread depth gauge

Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.

Search Amazon UK

Item 02 · Amazon UK

MOT-spec replacement number plate

Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.

Search Amazon UK

Buying or keeping a A3 S Line 35 Tdi S A?

Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.

If you own a A3 S Line 35 Tdi S A and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.